Little Rock Air Force Base and the Last C-130 Out of Vietnam

Located at the front gate of Little Rock Air Force Base, this static display of a C-130 connects the mission of the base with American military history as it is the last C-130 to depart Vietnam during the final days of the military's presence there in 1975. This aircraft arrived in Vietnam in 1972, and on April 29, 1975, its aircrew evacuated 452 South Vietnamese civilians, more than five times the rated capacity of a C-130, and brought them to safety in Thailand. The aircraft is a reminder of the bravery of the South Vietnamese aircrew, and the continued work by military personnel at Little Rock Air Force Base to support military and humanitarian missions. While one needs military identification or a military liaison to enter the base, there is parking outside of the gate near this aircraft for those who would like a closer look at the last cargo plane to leave Vietnam.

Home to the 19^th Airlift Wing, 314^th Airlift Wing, and 189^th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base has been a part of the greater Little Rock area since the early 1950s. Of these three airwings, the 314^th and their C-130s served during the Vietnam War, including support of Marines by delivering essential supplies during the Tet Offensive. From their service during this time, members of the 314^th were awarded two Air Force Crosses, eight Silver Stars, and thirty Distinguished Flying Crosses. The base mission emphasizes training and readiness for military and humanitarian missions, with military personnel supporting aircrews and operations of the C-130. The camouflaged C-130 by the front gate serves as a reminder of the continuity of their three Airlift Wings' missions and the Armed Forces' continued reliance on C-130s, an aircraft known as the "workhorse" of the Air Force.

C-130 Tail Number 56-0518 first flew in Vietnam with the 314^th Airlift Wing until she was transferred to the South Vietnamese Air Force in 1972. During this period, the aircrew performed operations like troop transport and cargo delivery, including combat offloads in hostile zones, just as she had with the 314^th. 56-0518 continued flying missions in support of the United States and South Vietnamese efforts until her final flight of the conflict on 29 April 1975. It was during the withdrawal efforts to get both the US Military and South Vietnamese civilians out of the country that this aircraft flew its most famous mission.

As the North Vietnamese took control, thousands of South Vietnamese who had supported the United States or South Vietnamese government desperately attempted to board any aircraft As one of the last flyable aircraft available, the aircrew of those C-130’s pushed the limits to bring more than the regulation of 92 passengers, finding space for 452 passengers, including 32 in the cockpit. The plane landed safely in Utapao, Thailand.

Prior to their arrival, the plane was packed so full that the ramp and door in the back would not fully lock. The pilot, Major Phuong, reportedly accelerated and then hit the brakes to provide the needed force to close the ramp and door in place. What would normally be an hour and a half flight became three and half hours when the crew became lost. Luckily for everyone on board, the usage of maps and landmarks allowed the crew to finally navigate to Thailand. Thanks to the actions of Major Phuong and the rest of his brave aircrew, 452 South Vietnamese people were flown to safety.

56-0518 was then transferred back to the US Air Force where it flew until 1989. Military leaders decided that the aircraft should remain as a static display in front of the Air Force base where they train C-130 aircrew.

^[1] Little Rock AFB, militarybases.us. Accessed November 14th 2021. http://www.militarybases.us/air-force/little-rock-afb/.

^[2] A Brief History of the 314th Airlift Wing, littlerock.af.mil. January 15th 2017. Accessed November 14th 2021. https://www.littlerock.af.mil/Portals/25/documents/Unit%20info/314%20HERITAGE%20PAMPHLET%202017.pdf?ver=2017-02-07-112321-233.

^[3] Little Rock AFB, militarybases.us. Accessed November 14th 2021. http://www.militarybases.us/air-force/little-rock-afb/.

^[4] A Brief History of the 314th Airlift Wing, littlerock.af.mil. January 15th 2017. Accessed November 14th 2021. https://www.littlerock.af.mil/Portals/25/documents/Unit%20info/314%20HERITAGE%20PAMPHLET%202017.pdf?ver=2017-02-07-112321-233.

^[5] Kohl, Julie . The Last Herk Out of Vietnam , onlyinark.com. June 16th 2017. Accessed November 14th 2021. https://onlyinark.com/culture/last-herk-vietnam/.

^[6] History, littlerock.af.mil. Accessed November 14th 2021. https://www.littlerock.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2001063315/.

^[7] C-130 Hercules , af.mil. June 1st 2018. Accessed November 14th 2021. https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1555054/c-130-hercules/.

^[8] History, littlerock.af.mil. Accessed November 14th 2021. https://www.littlerock.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2001063315/.

^[9] Kohl, Julie . The Last Herk Out of Vietnam , onlyinark.com. June 16th 2017. Accessed November 14th 2021. https://onlyinark.com/culture/last-herk-vietnam/.

^[10] Kohl, Julie . The Last Herk Out of Vietnam , onlyinark.com. June 16th 2017. Accessed November 14th 2021. https://onlyinark.com/culture/last-herk-vietnam/.